Spacer ring



July 15, 1947. H. w. OCONNOR SPACER RING Filed May 15, 1945 INVENTOR. Harry W arc/mar BY ML.

A 7' TOEIVEX Patented July 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I SPACER RING Harry W. OConnor, New York, N. Y. Application May 15, 1945, Serial No..593,908 1Cl'aim. (c1. '11s 11) p (Granted under the act of March3, .1 883, as

amended April 30, 1928;370 0. a. 757) This invention relates to a flexible spacer ring, v

useful in maintaining alignment and spacing between adjacent surfaces of annular objects while work is being done upon them, as, for example, in welding lengths of pipe to other pipe, fittings, flanges and the like,

In many installation-s, such as high pressure equipment, clearances are specified between the ends of sections. of pipe and the surfaces they abut, such as the ends of other sections of pipe, or the shoulders of flanges. The problem of maintaining a specified clearance between annular objects to be welded is often complicated by the expansionof the parts during welding. The use of gaskets to maintain the desired'clearance is wasteful of materiaLitime and labor. Often they can not be removed until the assembly has thoroughly cooled, and their removal is always slow and difficult, since they must be cut or scraped out.

An object of this invention is to provide a spacer ring for aligning and spacing annular objects while such objects are being welded or otherwise workedupon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spacer ring as above described which is easily inserted and which will hold its position without external aid. e

Still another object of this invention is toprovide a spacer ring as above described which may be easily removed while the adjoining annular surfaces remain rigidly fixed with relation to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spacer ring as above described which can absorb compression without permanent deformation, and which will return to its original crosssectional shape when such compressionl force is removed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spacer ring as above described which may be used and reused many times.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the spacer ring of this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the spacer ring of this invention, looking toward the open end,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the spacer ring of this invention taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section through a length of pipe anda flange welded thereto, with the spacer ring of this. invention in place between them,

Figure 5 is .a, section through two lengths of pipe; welded together in a fillet welded, socket joint, with the spacer ring of this invention in place between them, and 1 Figure 56 is a section through two lengths of pipe and a sleeve, the parts being welded together in' a sleeve joint, with the spacer ring of this invention in vplace between the two lengths of pipe.

.Referring to the dnawings in detail, ll represents .a split ring 'of spring wire or equivalent elastic material '(Figs. 1, 2, and 3), the ends of which are sharply bent inward, ending in loops or grips l2. Grips 12 may be coplanar with split ring I, I, or may extendat an angle from the plane of split ring ll,as desired. Wound about split ring H and contained within its ends is a helix l3, .also made of springvwire or similar material. ;,The drawings illustrate several examples of the utilization of thespacer ring of this invention, as between a length of pipe [4 being joined to a flange I5.by weld I6 (Figure 4), between a length of pipe I! being joined by weld l8 to another length of pipe [9 in a fillet welded socket joint: ;(Figure 5), and between two lengths of pipe 20 being" joined together by sleeve 2i and weld-s22; in a sleeve joint (Figure .6).

The wire used in making split ring I l and helix I3 is preferably of circular cross-section. The inner diameter of helix I3 is greater than the diameter of the wire comprising split ring H, a suitable relationship being established when the diameter of the wire comprising helix [3 is approximately one-fourth the diameter of the wire comprising split ring H, and the outer diameter of helix I3 is approximately twice the diameter of the wire comprising split ring I I.

In the operation of the invention, a spacer ring of suitable size is selected, that is, a spacer ring in which the diameter of split ring II is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the recess into which it is to be inserted, and in which the outer diameter of helix I3 is equal to the clearance desired. The spacer ring is then grasped by means of grips [2, the operator using his fingers or a suitable implement such as pair of pliers, or a suitable spanner and the diameter of split ring H is reduced by forcing the grips l2 into close proximity. In this contracted condition, the spacer ring is inserted in place, as, for example, against the interior shoulder of flange l5 (Figure 4), against the interior shoulder of pipe l9 (Figure 5), or

l3 being constant throughout its length, and equal to the clearance desired, the adjacent an-r,

nular parts will then be not only properly spaced;

The grips l2 may be of any shape desired, provided they do not extend beyond the periphery of split ring H. A most useful combination of shapes has been found to be as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with one of grips I2 being coplanar With split ring II and extending inward, and; the other being coplanar wlth split ring H for apart of its length and then being bent at an angle of 90 degrees so that it is perpendicular to the plane of split ring II. This combination of shapes makes for easy grasping, and the grip 12 perpendicular to the plane of split ring but also properly aligned and coaxial, The adj-1' jacent parts being thus properly spaced and aligned, they may then be tacked 'o'r Eo'mp'let'ely' l-I isa convenient means for handling, insert- 7 ing r withdrawing the split ring.

welded together, or may be otherwise worked spacer ring may be easily 'rerrfovejdby grasping grips l2 with the fingers or a suitable'instrument, forcing the grips. 12 into close proximity with each; other, andwithdrawing: the spacer ring. The rspacer ring is ready .for reuse.

When .two annular parts; are .rbeing welded together with. the spacer ringqof. this invention be? tween them, theheat of welding may. cause'e'xpansion of the parts resulti in aidiminution of the clearance; between the; two surfaces *adjoining't'he spacer, ring. i This. diminution, "of clearanceexerts: compressive ,force upon the spacerv rin which is totally absqrbedtby helix l3. It will be apparent that helix 13 maybe temporarily, vdisftqlfted, to, a considerable degree without binding iupqnfsr littring. ill and without arr; pe manen I. GiS Q 'Qi' H' resulting in either helix lfii rshlitring l-l.

Thaspaeeniring maybe reinoved, if desired, while helix. I3, is in a, -compressed,"'distorted con, dition, although 'more :force will fbeg-requir'ed to bring 'grips, 12 together; itxbeingvnecess'ary to overcome the TfI-iCtiQIl caused; by i the. adjoining surfacesbearing. .nn 'h'elix"'I3-. "Upon removal, however; helix t3.willreturn.tb its original'shape, and xrio, permanent "deformation will fresult from the temp orariy rcompres's'h'e deformation. "Or, alternativly, Ithe "spacerliringlfmay be left in place 'until fthe" adjoining fparts have; cool'edfahd the original 'clearance "between thein has been :'restoredby'coritraet'ron', whereuponithe sp cfe'rfring will reassume its "original :s'hape'in. place, and

-It is to be understood that various modification s a r u;lchanges may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereo as set forth in the appended claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of.. "the Unitedust'ates of. America for governmental purposes without. the payment er any royalties thereon orzthereforl What is claimed is:

A -spacer. ring. for spacing objects durin a Welding operation, comprising a. split-ring of spring.wire, the, said-split ring. forming almost ac'ornp'lete circle, the ends-of said split ring being bent, inwardly and formed intoxgrips, "and a helix 50f springv wire; encircling said split ring and being contained within its ends, the diameter of theqspringiwirezcomprising said helix. being smallenth'an the diameter :of the spring wire comprising .sai'd split ring, and 'the inside diameter of Fsaid: helix. being greater 'thanj-the diameter ofl'theispring, wire icomprising said split ring; 1

. (HARRY WJ-OiCQNNOR.

hirFiiaENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the 

